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Summary of tdiff Calibration at Blackstone. Kevin Sterne. SuperDARN Weekly Group Meeting. Kevin Sterne (Space@VT). Sept. 13, 2016. Elevation angle with SuperDARN. Use of second array. Radarhut. Need to calibrate difference in time. Don’t forget electronics as well!.
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Summary of tdiff Calibration at Blackstone Kevin Sterne SuperDARN Weekly Group Meeting Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) Sept. 13, 2016
Elevation angle with SuperDARN • Use of second array Radarhut Need to calibrate difference in time.Don’t forget electronics as well! Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Ground coax calibration • Use of open end transmission line characteristics • Two methods: vary frequency/look for nulls; use of S11 with network analyzer Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Find Null Method • Use of 2-channel o-scope to do math on signals • Vary frequency until the math trace is minimized • Ray one-off method (used April 2014) Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Network Analyzer Method • Measure S11 expanded phase with network analyzer • Chose frequency points and measure phase • Average over several pairs to get value • Used by UAF crew for MSI radars • Used by Kevin/Mike for Kap replacement; found ~inch precision over 950’ length Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Tdiff calculation • tdiff is two parts: ground coax + electronics • Electronics calibration: • What are the different paths between main array and interferometer array? Radar hut Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Leicester Electronics (2008 – June 2011) • Electronics calibration performed with vector voltmeter and Leicester procedures • Measurement ofeach beam, 1 MHzcombination • Produced tdiffsas a function offreq. Used average,fudge factor. Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
VT Electronics (Sept. 2011 – March 2014) • Tdiff not calibrated until April 10, 2013 • Remeasured July 2013; RX path adjusted • Involved adding extra lengths of cable until phases matched • Freq independent Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
VT/DDS Electronics • DDS System from USask installed March 2014; initial calibration done during install • Electronics, ground coax length rechecked April 2014 Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016
Where are we now? • Many lines in hdw.dat file • Simon/Ray suspect current value is not correct on case study basis • No study oncorrect valueover range oftimes. Kevin Sterne (Space@VT) bkstdiffcal Sept. 13, 2016